as in description
a vivid representation in words of someone or something
his account created in the jurors' heads a detailed portrait of a lonely old man
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of portrait
Lee’s portrait, searching and moving, first sparked my enthusiasm about biographies as histories of eras and of minds.
—
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
1 July 2026
Like many great works of American literature, the book is an unflinching portrait of a seemingly happy family held together by hubris and fear of change.
—
Hannah Jocelyn,
New Yorker,
1 July 2026
For their reality show The Baldwins, the nine squeezed in for a sunny portrait.
—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
30 June 2026
Pictured below, a portrait of his sisters by Patrick Branwell Brontë, circa 1834.
—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrait
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
1 July 2026
Like many great works of American literature, the book is an unflinching portrait of a seemingly happy family held together by hubris and fear of change.
—
Hannah Jocelyn,
New Yorker,
1 July 2026
For their reality show The Baldwins, the nine squeezed in for a sunny portrait.
—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
30 June 2026
Pictured below, a portrait of his sisters by Patrick Branwell Brontë, circa 1834.
—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for portrait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portrait
Noun
-
While conducting surveillance, McCurnin spotted a man riding an electric scooter who matched the suspect’s description.
-
Make care work, such as offering emotional support, mentoring, and change management, part of the job description.
Noun
-
Like that 1851 depiction of Washington, these portraits smudge the details of history in favor of a fantasy.
-
Friendship was a tender, absurd depiction of a one-sided, quasi-platonic infatuation.
Noun
-
The play, starring John Lithgow, already recouped its capitalization in May, with Lithgow winning a Tony for his portrayal of Roald Dahl.
-
That portrayal caused Amazon to want to distance itself from the film, given the company’s $50 billion investment in OpenAI, two of the sources said.
Noun
-
For purpose, whether anyone can trace their daily work to the larger picture without being handed a slogan.
-
McCabe brings up a fantastic black-and-white picture on his laptop.
Noun
-
Schaffer said Reiner shaved his trademark beard for the sketch, which filmed on November 13, just a month before Rob and Michele were killed inside their home; their son Nick was arrested and charged with the murders.
-
Oteri famously portrayed the View creator in a series of sketches on Saturday Night Live, where Oteri was a regular from 1995 to 2000.
Cite this Entry
“Portrait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portrait. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
